Rail-joint.



M. M. ROBERTS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 1913.

1,097,467, Patented May 19, 1914,

ygw Z1154 J3 9&1,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CUHWASHKNGTON, n. c

unrrnn stra ts PATENT OFFICE.

MARION M. ROBERTS, 01E GO$SETT, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern Gossett, in the county of White and State of Illinois, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Ra1l-Joints, of WlllCh the following is a specificatlon.

The present invention relates to improvements in rail joints, the primary object being to provide a pair of clamping members which are adapted to engage with the rail ends and to be secured to the said ends, the clamping members having their base formed with a recess or pocket having a plate therein upon which the ends of the rails rest,

and the said plate being supported upon the flat upper surface of a wedge-shaped key which is longitudinally adjustable transversely of the clamping members to elevate or lower the plate and so sustain the heads of the rails in proper register.

The invention further consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating two rails connected in accordance with the present invention Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a central transverse sectional view of the same, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a similar section but illustrating the rest plate re moved.

Referring to the drawings in detail, R-R designates the ends of two railway rails of conventional form, and 1 and 2 designate oppositely disposed clamping members or fish plates which are provided for connecting the ends of the rails. These clamps each include a base 3 which has its outer longitudinal edge formed with a flange that over- I lies the base and with a vertical extension, the flange being provided to engage with the base flanges of the rails at the meeting ends thereof, while the vertical plates lie be,- tween the said base flanges and heads and engage with the webs of said rails. The plates are provided with openings which register with similar openings in the webs of the rails, and are adapted for the reception of theusual securing bolts which are provided with the ordinary retaining nuts.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1914;.

Application filed December 27, 1913. Serial No. 809,059.

members, adjacent the corners are notched Be it known that I, MARION M. Bonnnrs, a citizen of the United States, residlng at for the reception of spikes, whereby the clamps may be retained in proper position upon the ties which support the joint. The base of each of the clamping members is centrally formed with a depending portion providing a reinforcing enlargement 5, and the upper face of the base of each of the clamps above the said enlargement 5 is formed with a rectangular depression 6, the registering depressions serving as a pocket for the reception of a rectangular plate 7 upon which the ends of the rails are adapted to rest. The bases, centrally of the pocket 6, are channeled transversely, as indicated by the numerals 8 and 9. The lower walls of the channels are inclined upwardly from the side of the base of the clamp 1 toward the outer side of the base of the clamp 2, and the outer side of the base of the clamp 2 is provided with a rounded opening 10 The registering channels are adapted to receive a wedge block 12, the same having a lower angular face 11 which rests upon the angular walls of the said channels.

The wedge block is of a width equaling that of the channels 8 and 9, and has its reduced end provided with a reduced threaded extension 13 which passes through the round opening 10, the projecting portion of the eX- tension 13 being provided with an adjusting nut 14:, whereby when the said nut is rotated in one direction, the wedge will be moved longitudinally within the channels 8 and 9 to cause its upper face to be raised above the lower walls of the pocket and so elevate the plates, and as a consequence elevate the ends of the rails which are seated upon the rest plate. It will be noted that the wedge is arranged direct-1y centrally of the rest plate, and as a consequence the said wedge is disposed centrally of the meeting ends of the rails so that the weight of the rail ends is deposited upon the rest plate and upon the wedge.

I am aware that structures for accomplishing a similar purpose have been devised, and so I make no broad claim to such a structure, but

What I do claim is:

1. A rail joint comprising separate clamping members engaging opposite sides and extending under the meeting ends of two rails, a rest plate arranged in a pocket in The outer longitudinal of the lease I the said clamping plates and supporting the ends of the rails, and a transversely arranged adjustable wedge member arranged centrally beneath the plate.

2. A rail joint comprising separate clamping members on both sides of the meeting ends of two rails, the bases of said clamps having their inner faces centrally formed with registering depressions forming a pocket, a plate within the pocket upon which the rail ends rest the clamping members having central transverse channels which extend to the horizontal walls provided by the pockets, one of said channels extending through the side wall of the pocket and one opening into the side of one of the clamps,

the said second channel communicating with.

a round opening, the lower walls of the channels being beveled toward the said round opening, a block having its under face beveled and its upper face horizontally straight arranged within the channel and longitudinally adjustable therein, a plate the said block supporting the aforementioned rail supporting plate and being disposed centrally of the meeting ends of the rails, said block having a threaded extension which projects through the round opening in the wall, and a nut for the said eX- tension.

In testimony whereof I ahix my signature 0 T. E. TAYLOR, THOM RAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

